198 scolopacidtE. 



above this proportion. In Cork harbour, whimbrels are said 

 to appear in considerable flocks in spring ; but a few only to be 

 seen in autumn.* My correspondents do not mention this 

 bird as visiting the western coasts at the latter season ; but its 

 numbers are now so small where they do appear, that they might 

 pass unobserved, though in spring the large nocks are conspicu- 

 ous on the shores.f 



Not only is the whimbrel, as already remarked, the only bird 

 among our Scolopacida of regular double passage, but it differs 

 from all the other species of the family in the much fewer num- 

 bers appearing during the autumnal than the vernal migration. 

 Its course of flight, too, both in spring and autumn, differs from 

 that of its congeners. 



In spring, whimbrels, probably for want of company — no god- 

 wits, &c. being here — keep generally by ' ' themselves," and as 

 such, are literally " a host ;" but in autumn, they exhibit a very 

 sociable disposition, and are frequently to be found in company 

 with curlews — with godwits, too, they not uncommonly associate : I 

 have obtained both species at the same shot. At this time they 

 accompany the curlew in its prudential flights, as detailed in 

 treating of that bird, and under a safer guardian the most 

 trustworthy of friends could not place them. Never when under 

 the surveillance of the curlew, but only when trusting to them- 

 selves, have whimbrels fallen to my gun. Like that bird, they 

 fly much about during the autumnal nights, be these dark or 

 moonlight ; but they prefer the latter. They may always be dis- 

 tinguished from other species by the cry, resembling in sound the 

 word titterel; — the provincial name applied to them in Sussex.J 

 They fly from the sea inland, as well as in the opposite direction, 

 and take both courses during every state of the tide ; hence we 

 may consider that they are night-feeding birds. 



* Mr. Wm. Crawford. 



t In the island of May, Scotland, the whimbrel is annually seen on its spring 

 passage northward ; but has not been observed at any other season by my informant. 



% Knox, ' Ornithological Rambles in Sussex,' p. S. 



